Saquarema,
Brazil, October 1, 2013 – In the lead up to the Men’s U23 World Championships,
Brazil’s young players are enjoying the opportunity to train alongside their
national heroes in Aryzao at Saquarema’s Center of Volleyball Development.

Giving
the young players the opportunity to practice daily alongside their idols, is
important preparation for the first ever FIVB Under 23 Men’s World
Championships that will take place in Uberlandia, Brazil, from 6 to 13 of
October.

For
new stars Ricardo Lucarelli and Ricardo Alexandre, the two players have found inspiration
from their room, aptly named after the legendary setter Ricardinho.

“Here in Aryzao all the rooms
pay homage to a player with a sign on the door bearing his/her name,” said Lucarelli.
“We are in Ricardinho´s room. It is a lot of Ricardos! He revolutionised
volleyball with a fast style that he put inside the courts and all the teams
around the world started to copy him. He is a legend and a reference for any
player.”

Ricardo Alexandre, 22 who plays
for Sao Bernardo Volei is also proud of occupying the room that is named after
his idol. “I started to play volleyball after seeing the national team at the Olympics
in 2004, where Ricardinho was one of the main leaders,” Ricardo affirmed. “I
tried to get a little of his personality by wearing a similar national team
t-shirt which I take with me on the courts. I watched a lot that team in 2004.”

The young “Ricardos” are in the
last stage of preparation for the first edition of Under 23 Championship in
Uberlândia, Brazil. The Brazilian team will start their campaign against the
Dominican Republic, next Sunday.